Loon Cove Summer
- Vanessa Bettencourt
- May 7
- 10 min read
My review here soon (asap)
Q&A
What genre do you write, and why is this your favorite?
I began writing thrillers for adults but soon switched to writing middle grade books. There’s something so special about that time in a young person’s life. A place where you have one foot in the real world heading toward young adulthood and one foot still in the magical world of childhood where you can believe in almost anything.
I also love writing for 8–12-year-olds with all the things they are experiencing. This time in their lives is a rich field to mine for character and plot such as …
· They want to be loyal to their family but crave independence.
· They want to define themselves with their own identity but want to fit in.
· They yearn to grow up and make big choices but want to feel safe and have things decided for them.
· Their friendships start to get complicated.
· Things that they thought about themselves, friends, or family start to change.
· They have many “firsts” and milestone moments.
What prompted you to write this book?
My parents owned and operated a campground in New Hampshire when I was a little girl. Growing up as an only-child, a New England campground by a lake was an enchanting place to live where I always had other kids to play with. Loon Cove Summer is a love letter to my childhood there—and rich with my love for loons, lakes, kayaking, raptors, and hiking! It’s been a nostalgic journey for me as my parents died before I could finish this book, but they are both honored in the book. It was also a healing book for me as it includes shared grief between a father and daughter—in the same way my father and I experienced it after my mom died.
If your world had a theme song what genre would it be?
To get really specific it would be John Denver songs—especially “Annie’s Song” and “Colorado Rocky Mountain High”. I loved him growing up (I’d planned to marry him until he died in a plane crash!). He immersed himself in the wonder of nature like me and it shone through his songs. As a young girl living on a mountain top, I spent my days roaming the woods alone, climbing trees, and singing his songs to the forest.
How do you fight writer’s block?
I’ve filled my toolbox over the years with ways to “get writing”. I’ve also learned that we can’t wait for inspiration—especially when under deadline with a book contract! Here are ways I tackle being stalled in my writing:
· Go to the woods! A walk in nature always unleashes creativity and helps solve plot issues I’m stuck on.
· Create a soundtrack for your story that reflects its theme and emotion.
· Listen to binaural beats with headphones. Search online for this to find free apps. Binaural beats help with concentration and creativity.
· Get away! Get out of the house. Go to a café and write. Book a cabin if you can for a few days to get in the zone. I did this with all three of my Unicorn Island books. I wrote each in five days at a cabin at the Highlights Foundation (to be fair I had a strong outline, and they are short books!).
· Change the room you normally write in for a different environment.
· Journal in your character’s voice. Even if your character is in third-person in your story, journal in the first-person to get close to them.
· Journal with pen and paper about a plot point, scene, or character you are stuck on. Writing on paper unleashes a different kind of creativity then typing on a computer.
· Get together with other writers and write beside each other to “get your butt in the chair” and be accountable. I do this weekly with a small group of writers at a café.
· Use the Pomodoro Technique as a time management method where you set a timer for 25-minutes and write intensely without distraction. Then take a 5-minute break to get a drink, stretch, etc. Then do it again and again. This is a mind game to get you writing under pressure in short spurts.
What is your next project?
My next book out in March 2026 is a contemporary middle grade novel called, The Secret Winners Club. It’s also very personal to me as it involves three middle-schoolers who all have visible autoimmune issues—like me.
Here’s what The Secret Winners Club is about:1st Rule of The Secret Winners Club: Do whatever it takes.
Thirteen-year-old Sunny Whitlock has alopecia, an autoimmune condition that’s made her lose her hair—and she’s desperate to be seen as more than just the bald kid. But how? By setting an epic goal: win her school’s junkbot club competition. And if she’s #1, then other kids will have to see beyond her disease … and she’ll finally fit in.
Sunny’s immune-deficient best friends are also tired of looking different and achieving second place in their school competitions. With a bold plan, Sunny bands with them to create The Secret Winners Club, a club devised to win—at any cost—and push them outside their comfort zones.
They promise to trust no one else. It’s all classified! And in total secrecy they aim to help one another become #1 before this middle school year is over. But as they start to succeed, they quickly discover that crossing the line and hurting others can make them even more visible and even more an outsider.
What is THE book you always recommend?
I love middle-grade stories that have nature and adventure—or both! So that is a toss between Surviving Bear Island by Paul Greci and 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr.
What brings you joy on a daily basis?
So many things! Grounding myself with yoga and qigong, as well as getting outside in nature. I live for long walks along nature preserves. It’s also where I create story ideas and fill myself up with beauty in nature. And the very act of creating brings me joy whether it’s a podcast, novel, blog post, or presentation. And of course, my husband and son always bring me joy. To be loved and love in return, gives my life peace and purpose.
Are you any character in your novel? Are you the lead or another?
I am so much Sarah, the main character in Loon Cove Summer! She’s dealing with her mom’s recent death and her father’s sadness and lack of awareness about what his daughter is going through—just like I dealt with. Many heartfelt and heartbreaking conversations between her and her dad, are actual ones my dad and I had. Sarah loves owning a campground and living there—like I did. She loves the lake and loons and hiking—like me! She’s also an only child like I am, which can be a lonely place to be especially when navigating the challenging journey of grief.
What has inspired you in your life to become an author (movies, authors, tv shows, events)?
I always knew I wanted to be an author since I was six years old. At the time, I lived in England and went to school in this old mansion on a sprawling estate. I discovered The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and curled up in nooks at school to read it—and the entire Narnia series. I knew right then that I wanted to write stories—and write fantasy. My first story was handwritten in pencil about a flying ship, wizard, and a dodo bird. I still have that story, and I have published several fantasy books since then. Loon Cove Summer is my first contemporary book.
About Donna:
Donna Galanti is the author of the middle-grade Unicorn Island series and the Joshua and the Lightning Road series. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and with the National Audubon Society. For details on her books, events, and school programs, visit donnagalanti.com.
About Loon Cove Summer:
Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center.
The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.
With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
You can order Loon Cove Summer here in hardcover, paperback, or eBook from your favorite bookstore: https://www.donnagalanti.com/loon-cove-summer/
Praise for Loon Cove Summer:
“An original and fun read from start to finish … inherently compelling and skillfully crafted. With its unexpected plot twists and deftly crafted characters, unreservedly recommended.” – Midwest Book Review
“A warm-hearted novel … balances profound loss with humor and hope.”– Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender“A page-turning read set in the wilds of Maine.” – Paul Greci, author of Surviving Bear Island"As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime.” – Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska“The cast of unforgettable characters and tender relationships stays with you.” – Jessica Rinker, author of The Dare Sisters
Useful Links
Newsletter: https://substack.com/@donnagalanti
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnagalanti/
Goodreads:
Galanti/author/B0074HM6YK?ccs_id=fb3405b6-c309-4b82-9209-44fde0282517
Udemy courses for writers: https://www.udemy.com/user/donna-galanti/
EXCERPT FROM LOON COVE SUMMER: CHAPTER 21
"I grabbed my backpack and ran down to the cottages but quickly hid behind a
tree with Maggie and Dad in view by Loon Cove. Our one lamppost in the parking lot
held them in its spotlight as twilight deepened. Maggie untied her Boston Whaler, turned on the masthead navigation lights and red and green side lights, and they slowly moved out. Their voices blended together, sprinkled with Dad’s laughs.
I ran down the hill and knocked on Theo’s door.
“You don’t look sick,” he said evenly with a twisted smile.
“Lake project, come on,” was all I said, then added, “Bring a flashlight.”
“Well, okay.”
I loved his eager spontaneity. He grabbed a battery-powered lantern. Perfect.
He didn’t ask me more. We headed out from Loon Cove in his canoe. I kept
Maggie’s boat in sight, leading the way as it became dusk. She trolled slowly along as if
looking for something. We kept behind her enough to stay unnoticed, edging alongside
the mainland.
“What’s the hurry?” Theo called from behind, as I paddled faster.
“We’re following them.” I placed my fingers to my lips.
“Who?”
“My dad and your aunt.”
“Why the spy mission?” He lowered his voice and craned his neck to peer around
me.
“They’re on a sojourn.”
“Oh.”
We slowed as Maggie’s boat slowed, listening to waves slap up against the
canoe. “I don’t know about this,” he said. “And wait … what’s a sojourn?”
I pointed. “They’re heading across the lake!”
He stopped asking questions and fell into rhythm with my paddling. We slid away
from the mainland. The water was glass-like, ripples of fog floating above it in the cool
evening air. Silhouettes of trees blended with the darkening sky, their reflection fading
from the water with the last bits of light.
They headed to Lambert Cove and the Gunks. We followed, our paddles dipping in and
out with soft splashes.
Out here at night, the darkness could swallow you up, but we were not alone.
The mournful hoot of a loon pierced the quiet as if he said to his mate, I’m here, where
are you? It echoed in the coves, as she answered back, Here I am. I’m over here. Their
calls to each other punctuated the fall of night, bringing with it a soft serenity.
Maggie’s navigation light led the way for us across the smooth expanse, her side
lights blinking red and green. Our own lantern’s yellow glow shed dim pools of light
around our canoe. The near-full moon peeked in and out from clouds, glimmering on the water. Maggie slowed her engine, gliding to the left of the Gunks. I paddled faster.
“They’re up to something,” I whispered over my shoulder to Theo.
“Why don’t we just ask them about it?” he said, but I shushed him as we reached
Lambert Cove. Maggie’s engine sputtered then died as she turned it off.
“Let’s tell them we’re here,” Theo urged, but I guided us in between the Gunks so
we could hide and sneak a peek of them on the other side where they’d stopped.
In the disappearing light, Maggie opened a tackle box and rummaged around,
then pulled up a net from the side of the boat. She directed Dad to grab what looked like
a giant flashlight and hand it to her. They waited. So, did we.
Darkness crept in. Stars filled in the sky; the clouds moved away, and the moon
shone bright. Colored boat lights glowed around the lake, as lake visitors headed home,
their goodbyes to friends and family bounded around us.
“I don’t mind if my aunt likes your dad, why should you?” Theo whispered. “Aunt
Maggie’s cool.”
I didn’t answer.
“Do you think your dad’s not good enough for her or something?” His voice grew
sharp.
“That’s not it at all,” I whispered back.
Maggie’s boat drifted, riding the shore, and we eased out from hiding behind the
Gunk to follow her.
“Turn off the lantern,” I said. Theo asked no more questions and did as I asked.
As if in response, Maggie switched off her lights, leaving us in only the soft glow
of the moon. The water and sky pressed all around, then the clouds blanketed the moon
shuttering us in dimness.
“What’s she doing?” Theo seemed as interested as me in this adventure now and
leaned toward me from across the canoe.
“No idea.”
We lagged behind, her Boston Whaler a hulking shadow on the water. She knelt
and bent over the edge, her cream shirt a beacon in the night. Dad bent with her. Then
she suddenly flooded the water below her with a bright beam from a handheld spotlight.
A high-pitched chirping noise filled the air.
“Those are baby loons in distress,” I squeaked out. “She’s taking loon chicks!”
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